The BC Meat Industry Enhancement Strategy was formed in 2004 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, industry, and the BC Food Processors Association.  It ended in August 2011 and has been succeeded by the Sustainable Food Safety program.

MIES was funded by grants from the Province of British Columbia, the lead agencies being the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture. MIES’ focus was on supporting slaughter operators in transition to licensing under the BC Food Safety Act’s Meat Inspection Regulation.  MIES’ goals were to ensure reasonable access to provincially licensed slaughter facilities for all BC regions and to increase licensed livestock slaughter capacity for all species, with a basis for future expansion.

MIES facilitated slaughter operators’ compliance with the Meat Inspection Regulation and other regulatory requirements through the services of its Help Desk extension personnel, in addition to assisting applicants with their files under the Meat Transition Assistance Program (MTAP).